StateDeptcable1978-120527

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

Message Text

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 01 BOGOTA 04524 01 OF 02 130036Z
ACTION ARA-14

INFO OCT-01 ISO-OO CIAE-00 DODE-OO PM-05 H-01 INR-10
L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 SP-02 SS-15 ICA-11
MCT-01 SNM-05 DEAE-00 SY-05 EB-08 OMB-01 TRSE-00
COME-OO LAB-04 SIL-01 /093 W

088856 130140Z/64

P R 122048Z MAY 78

FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA

TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7969

INFO AMEMBASSY CARACAS

AMEMBASSY MANAGUA

USSOUTHCOM

AMCONSUL BARRANQUILLA

AMCONSUL CALI

AMCONSUL MEDELLIN

CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 1 OF 2 BOGOTA 4524

E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PINT, CO

SUB J : POLITICAL SUMMARIES: THE WEEK IN COLOMBIA

1 . SUMMARY: THE PASSENGERS, INCLUDING FIVE AMERICANS, AND
CREW OF A HIJACKED AVIANCA FLIGHT WERE RELEASED, AND THEIR
ASSAILANTS WERE CAPTURED IN CURACAO. IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT,

THE NICARAGUAN AMBASSADOR TO COLOMBIA WAS FREED UNHARMED
AFTER BEING HELD BRIEFLY BY URBAN TERRORISTS SYMPATHETIC

TO THE CAUSE OF NICARAGUA'S SANDINISTA FRONT. THE SUPREME
COURT RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL LEGISLATION INTENDED TO CREATE
A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES CONTINUE
THEIR CAMPAIGNING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON INTERNAL SECURITY.

THE AMERICAN LAWYER REPRESENTING THE NEPHEW OF THE LIBERAL
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN A POSSIBLE LAWSUIT INVOLVING CBS
REPORTEDLY HAS INCLUDED PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT DR. PETER
BOURNE AS A POTENTIAL DEFENDANT. APRIL FIGURES SHOW SOME
PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST INFLATION. VIOLENT REACTIONS
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IN SEVERAL CITIES TO A GOVERNMENT- AUTHORIZED INCREASE IN
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FARES BROUGHT OUT HEAVY SECURITY
PATROLS WHICH SEEM TO BE CONTAINING THE DISORDERS, BUT LABOR
UNREST THREATENS TO CONTINUE TO UNSETTLE THE SITUATION.

END SUMMARY.

2. FIVE AMERICANS AMONG PASSENGERS OF HIJACKED PLANE.

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

FIVE U.S. CITIZENS WERE AMONG THE 1 19 PASSENGERS AND CREW
MEMBERS OF AN AVIANCA FLIGHT HIIACKED MAY 1 1 IN SANTA MARTA
BY ONE, OR POSSIBLY TWO, ARMED MEN, APPARENTLY COLOMBIANS
(BOGOTA 4493). THE HIJACKERS RELEASED SEVERAL PASSENGERS,
INCLUDING THE FIVE AMERICANS, DURING STOPS IN CALI AND ARUBA,
AND WERE FINALLY OVERCOME WITH THE HELP OF POLICE IN CURACAO.
THE TWO GUNMEN SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN ACTING ON THEIR OWN AND
HAD NOT MADE ANY CONCRETE RANSOM DEMANDS. ONE OF THE HI-
JACKERS, THE PLANE'S FLIGHT ENGINEER, TWO CURACAO POLICEMEN,
AND POSSIBLY ONE COLOMBIAN PASSENGER, REPORTEDLY WERE INJURED
DURING THE INCIDENT.

3. NICARAGUAN AMBASSADOR KIDNAPPED, RELEASED.

FOUR EXTREMISTS CLAIMING MEMBERSHIP IN THE M-19 URBAN TER-
RORIST MOVEMENT KIDNAPPED NICARAGUAN AMBASSADOR WILLIAM
BARQUERO FROM HIS EMBASSY ON MAY 10. THE ASSAILANTS PAINTED
ANTI-SOMOSA AND PRO-M-19 SLOGANS ON THE EMBASSY'S WALLS,
CLAIMING SYMPATHY WITH NICARAGUA'S SANDINISTA FRONT, AND
FLED WITH THE AMBASSADOR IN HIS OWN CAR. BARQUERO WAS RE-
LEASED UNHARMED SOME TWO HOURS LATER. THE AUTHORITIES MAIN-
TAIN THAT THE TERRORISTS WERE FRIGHTENED INTO FREEING THEIR
CAPTIVE BY POLICE ACTION, BUT BARQUERO'S STATEMENT THAT HIS
KIDNAPPERS HAD PLANNED HIS EARLY RELEASE AND PRIMARILY
WERE SEEKING PUBLICITY IS MORE PLAUSIBLE. POLICE OFFICIALS
IN BOGOTA REPORTEDLY HAVE DECIDED TO INCREASE THEIR VIGILANCE
OF ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS TO DISCOURAGE FURTHER TERRORIST
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ACTS.

4. SUPREME COURT SINKS CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY.

IN A CONTROVERSIAL DECISION, THE SUPREME COURT RULED UNCON
STITUTIONAL THE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD HAVE CREATED A
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION WITH REGARD
TO JUDICIAL REFORM AND ADMINISTRATION REORGANIZATION OF
THE DEPARTMENTS (STATES) AND MUNICIPALITIES. CRITICS CHARGED
THAT THE DECISION WAS A POLITICAL ONE, INFLUENCED BY THE
PROBABILITY THAT THE LIBERALS WOULD HAVE HAD A ONE-VOTE
MAJORITY IN THE ASSEMBLY BECAUSE OF THE ELECTORAL MECHANISM
SET FORTH IN THE LEGISLATION. THE SEGMENT OF THE BILL WHICH
SET THE DATES FOR CONGRESSIONAL AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
ON FEBRUARY 26 AND JUNE 4, RESPECTIVELY, WAS ALLOWED TO
STAND, SINCE THAT PROVISION REQUIRED ONLY SIMPLE LEGIS-
LATIVE HANDLING, NOT INVOLVING CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM, WHICH
THE BILL S PASSAGE FULFILLED. COMMENT: THE COURT S RULING
DEALT A MAJOR BLOW TO PRESIDENT LOPEZ 1 PRESTIGE SINCE THE
ASSEMBLY WAS HIS PROPOSAL, IN WHICH HE CHARACTERISTICALLY
ATTEMPTED TO BYPASS THE CONGRESS, AS HE DID WITH THE OTHER
MAJOR ENDEAVOR OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, THE 1974 FISCAL REFORM.
THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY WAS ALSO TO ASSURE LOPEZ' PLACE

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

IN HISTORY. HE EXPECTED TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN ITS WORK
AS AN EX-PRESIDENT AND THEREFORE EX OFICIO MEMBER DURING
THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. THE URGENTLY NEEDED REFORMS WHICH
THE ASSEMBLY WAS TO ENACT (THE USG WAS INTERESTED IN JUDICIAL
REFORMS IN CONNECTION WITH NARCOTICS INTERDICTION AND IN-
TERNAL SECURITY) MUST NOW BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE NEW CONGRESS
TO BE CONVENED IN JULY, WHERE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM REQUIRES
TWO YEARS FOR PASSAGE.

5. CANDIDATES ADDRESS ISSUE OF SECURITY.

IN RESPONSE TO WIDESPREAD PUBLIC CONCERN OVER SECURITY,

THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HAVE FOCUSSED ON THIS ISSUE
DURING RECENT SPEECHES. ON THE HEELS OF STATEMENTS BY CON-
SERVATIVE CANDIDATE BETANCUR THAT HE WOULD REFORM THE JUDICIARY
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THROUGH CONGRESS AND TAKE REPRESSIVE STEPS AGAINST CRIME,

LIBERAL CANDIDATE TURBAY PROMISED AN ALL-OUT FIGHT AGAINST

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PAGE 01 BOGOTA 04524 02 OF 02 130036Z

ACTION ARA-14

INFO OCT-01 ISO-OO CIAE-00 DODE-OO PM-05 H-01 INR-10
L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 SP-02 SS-15 ICA-11
MCT-01 SNM-05 DEAE-00 SY-05 EB-08 OMB-01 TRSE-00
COME-OO LAB-04 SIL-01 /093 W

088857 130140Z/64

P R 122048Z MAY 78

FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA

TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7970

INFO AMEMBASSY CARACAS

AMEMBASSY MANAGUA

USSOUTHCOM

AMCONSUL BARRANQUILLA

AMCONSUL CALI

AMCONSUL MEDELLIN

CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 2 OF 2 BOGOTA 4524

INSECURITY, WHILE RESPECTING LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL SAFE-

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

GUARDS. HE UNVEILED A SECURITY "PACKAGE" WHICH WOULD ADDRESS
SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME AND WHICH INCLUDED MEASURES
TO UPGRADE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND MORALE OF THE POLICE.
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE RETIRED GENERAL VALENCIA TOVAR S PRO-
NOUNCEMENTS ON SECURITY DREW CHARGES BY EX-PRESIDENT ALBERTO
LLERAS, TURBAY'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS SUPPORTER, THAT VALENCIA S
PROPOSALS CONSTITUTED 'INCIPIENT FASCISM". COMMENT: NEITHER
VALENCIA NOR HIS PROPOSALS COULD REASONABLY BE DESCRIBED
AS FASCIST. LLERAS’ AND OTHER SIMILAR ATTACKS ON THE GENERAL
ARE PROBABLY MORE A REFLECTION OF CONCERN THAT A SIGNIFICANT
NUMBER OF LIBERALS AND OTHERS MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO VOTE FOR
THE GENERAL, WHO HAS APPEARED TO GOOD ADVANTAGE IN HIS TELE-
VISION SPEECHES.

6. LAWYER FOR TURBAY'S NEPHEW CLARIFIES POSSIBLE CBS SUIT.

THE AMERICAN LAWYER REPRESENTING ANIBAL TURBAY, NEPHEW OF
THE LIBERAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, IN A POSSIBLE LAWSUIT
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PAGE 02 BOGOTA 04524 02 OF 02 130036Z

PROMPTED BY ALLEGATIONS IN A CBS TELEVISION PROGRAM COM
MENTED FURTHER ON THE LEGAL ACTION WHICH HE MIGHT PURSUE
(BOGOTA 4226). DONALD ISENBERG REPORTEDLY CLAIMED THAT THE
PRESS HAD MISINTERPRETED HIS EARLIER REMARKS; AND THAT THE
USG COULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE SUIT, ALTHOUGH PRESIDENTIAL
ASSISTANT DR. PETER BOURNE MIGHT BE. COMMENT: TURBAY'S
DETERMINATION IN CONTINUING THE SUIT STILL IS QUESTIONABLE,
ESPECIALLY SHOULD IT REQUIRE HIS RETURNING TO THE U.S.

TO TESTIFY.

7. PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN FIGHT AGAINST INFLATION.

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR WORKERS INCREASED BY 1.7 PERCENT
AND FOR EMPLOYEES BY 1 .4 PERCENT DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL.

THE PRICE CHANGES FOR THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR
WERE 7.4 PERCENT AND 7.9 PERCENT. THE MONTHLY FIGURE SEASONAL-
LY ADJUSTS TO AN ANNUAL RATE OF 1 1 PERCENT, AND FOR THE FIRST
FOUR MONTHS TO AN ANNUAL RATE OF 15 PERCENT. PRICE BEHAVIOR
IN THE MONTH OF APRIL IS HISTORICALLY ERRATIC AND NOT A GOOD
PREDICTOR, BUT THE PRICE CHANGES DURING THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS
ARE CONSISTENT WITH AN INFLATION RATE FOR THE YEAR OF LESS
THAN 20 PERCENT.

8. VIOLENT DEMONSTRATORS PROTEST FARE INCREASES; LABOR
UNHAPPY.

VIOLENT DEMONSTRATORS, MOSTLY STUDENTS, USED ROCKS AND
MOLOTOV COCKTAILS TO VENT THEIR ANGER IN SEVERAL CITIES
OVER A GOVERNMENT-AUTHORIZED INCREASE IN PUBLIC TRANSPOR-
TATION FARES (BOGOTA 4429). HEAVY POLICE AND ARMY PATROLS
ARE CONTAINING THE VIOLENCE WHICH BEGAN MAY 8 AND HAS CON-
TINUED FOR FOUR NIGHTS. SEVERAL LABOR UNIONS HAVE CONTRI
BUTED TO THE UNEASINESS BY THREATENING TO STRIKE IF THEIR

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

DEMANDS, GENERALLY FOR HIGHER PAY, ARE NOT MET. BUS DRIVERS
VOTED TO HALT SERVICES FOR 24 HOURS ON MAY 14, AND SEVERAL
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GOVERNMENT WORKERS UNIONS ARE CONSIDERING A STRIKE FOR THE
SAME WEEK. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, ROBERTO PRADILLA, A WEALTHY
BUSINESSMAN KIDNAPPED LAST DECEMBER, WAS RELEASED AFTER HIS
FAMILY PAID A REPORTED FIVE MILLION PESO RANSOM. COMMENT:

THE GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN NO SIGN OF WEAKENING ON THE TRAN-
SPORTATION FARE INCREASE, AND SEEMS CONFIDENT THAT IT CAN
CONTROL THE LIMITED, THOUGH NUMEROUS, ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

IT HAS BEEN MORE FLEXIBLE WITH SOME OF THE STRATEGIC LABOR
UNIONS (SUCH AS THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKERS), AND SHOULD
BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE MOST SALIENT PROBLEMS IN TIME TO
ASSURE AN ORDERLY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ON JUNE 4. ASENCIO

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NNN

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

Message Attributes

Automatic Decaptioning: X

Capture Date: 01 jan 1994

Channel Indicators: n/a

Current Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Concepts: POLITICAL SUMMARIES

Control Number: n/a

Copy: SINGLE

Draft Date: 12 may 1978

Decaption Date: 01 jan 1960

Decaption Note:

Disposition Action: RELEASED
Disposition Approved on Date:

Disposition Case Number: n/a
Disposition Comment: 25 YEAR REVIEW
Disposition Date: 20 Mar 2014
Disposition Event:

Disposition History: n/a
Disposition Reason:

Disposition Remarks:

Document Number: 1978BOGOTA04524

Document Source: CORE

Document Unique ID: 00

Drafter: n/a

Enclosure: n/a

Executive Order: GS

Errors: N/A

Expiration:

Film Number: D780203-0124
Format: TEL
From: BOGOTA
Handling Restrictions: n/a
Image Path:

ISecure: 1

Legacy Key: Iink1978/newtext/t19780566/aaaacdzf.tel

Line Count: 243
Litigation Code IDs:

Litigation Codes:

Litigation History:

Locator: TEXT ON-LINE, ON MICROFILM

Message ID: 3ce816a0-c288-dd11-92da-001cc4696bcc

Office: ACTION ARA

Original Classification: CONFIDENTIAL

Original Handling Restrictions: n/a

Original Previous Classification: n/a

Original Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a

Page Count: 5

Previous Channel Indicators: n/a
Previous Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a
Reference: n/a
Retention: 0

Review Action: RELEASED, APPROVED
Review Content Flags:

Review Date: 1 4 jul 2005
Review Event:

Review Exemptions: n/a
Review Media Identifier:

Review Release Date: n/a
Review Release Event: n/a
Review Transfer Date:

Review Withdrawn Fields: n/a
SAS ID: 2712583
Secure: OPEN
Status: NATIVE

Subject: POLITICAL SUMMARIES: THE WEEK IN COLOMBIA
TAGS: PINT, CO
To: STATE
Type: TE

vdkvgwkey: odbc://SAS/SAS.dbo.SAS_Docs/3ce816a0-c288-dd1 1-92da-001cc4696bcc
Review Markings:

Sheryl P. Walter
Declassified/Released
US Department of State
EO Systematic Review
20 Mar 2014

Markings: Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014

Sheryl P. Walter Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 20 Mar 2014